What Makes Barber Shops Special?

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Highly Trained Professionals

Finding a good hairdresser – or barber, in this case – is hard. The market is saturated with beginners trying to land a job and it’s not easy to tell who has a knack for this art form just by the first impression.

It’s a fact that men’s hairstyles require a much different approach than women’s – more frequent visits to the hair salon and meticulous length setup for hair clippers. The dandily dressed personnel is sure to know how to appreciate and upkeep a hairstyle that is both fashionable and compliments their customers’ features.

Whether you are looking for a seamless fade, a business-appropriate hairdo before an important meeting or the cleanest shave of your life, your best bet is visiting a men-only barbershop!

Special Atmosphere

Aside from the practical aspects of barbershops, you can rest assured that you’ll receive special treatment as well. Vintage decor, soft leather upholstery, and blues music in the background are just a few of the pleasantries most shops offer for a relaxed, well-spent grooming session.

Some take it to the next level by offering complimentary fine whiskey and cigars, too. You can get to know the staff, take your time and bond with your barber so you’ll have a fixed spot to pop into any time you need it!

Image Source: Men’s Grooming Ireland Barber Shop – Youtube

Luxury Treatment

Barbershops are not only known for their high-class haircuts, but they also excel in men’s skincare and shaving. Hot towel shaving was brought back into fashion by these salons – they provide the closest, smoothest, razor bump-free experience you can imagine. Some stores use the classic straight razor kept at perfect sharpness using a leather strop while others prefer to use a changeable blade system. Either way, your skin will be taken care of afterward by the best products possible. If you fancy anything, most stores provide their exclusive barber products for purchase as well – such as hair pomade, moisturizer or even signature scented cologne!

5 Essential DIY Skills You Need to Know

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Garrett

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Everything eventually breaks down. It’s an unavoidable part of life. But you can make the best of the situation by rolling up your sleeves and getting things done on your own. Sure, there are professional plumbers, carpenters, and builders that can handle the tougher jobs, but it’s best – if not for your soul, then for your wallet – to complete simpler tasks with your own two hands. Here’s a quick rundown of the 10 most crucial DIY skills everybody should know how to do.

1. How to use a drill

One of the most important DIY skills is using a drill. If you master this, then you can easily master a number of different DIY tasks from building your own furniture to mounting your own shelves. It’s crucial that you know the difference drills and drivers – a drill is used to create tiny holes by removing material from the workpiece, whereas a driver drives screws and other fasteners. We’d recommend getting yourself a handy driver-drill combo tool.

2. How to shut off the water supply

Without knowing how to turn off the water supply, a huge amount of high-pressure water may end up spraying your face when attempting to fix, repair, or replace pipes. All you need to do is locate the internal and external stopcock keys – valves that control water from into your home from the main supply. After shutting the valve, you’re free to tamper with the piping in and around your home without the risk of wasting water.

3. How to correctly use a hammer

If there’s one tool you need to know how to use, it would definitely be a hammer. Hammering a nail or fastener down isn’t just about whacking it as hard as possible. This will undoubtedly tire you out and leave your workpiece battered and unusable. Instead, hold the handle as if you’re shaking someone’s hand. Hold the hammer closer to the head for accuracy; holding it by the end of the handle will provide leverage for more powerful strikes.

4. How to wire a plug

It’s understandable if you’d like to leave electrical work to a professional electrician, but some jobs, such as rewiring a plug, can be done on your own. As long as the device is unplugged, you shouldn’t risk zapping yourself to the afterlife. The three wires are blue (neutral), brown (live), and yellow-green (earth). Connecting them to the correct terminal is simple: blue to the left, brown to the right, and striped to the top.

5. How to break down a door

This is a skill that you hopefully will never need to use but doesn’t hurt to know. If you’re alone at home and manage to lock yourself in the bathroom, both the door and your shoulder muscles will thank you for knowing this skill. Loosen the door frame by tapping the hinge pins loose. Grab the handle and lift. If all else fails, it’s time to go Bruce Lee on the door.

Workout Before Breakfast Leads to Significantly Improved Health

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Garrett

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We’ve been taught that breakfast – the first meal of the day typically consisting of bacon, waffles, sugary syrups, and a tiny piece of fruit – is the healthiest meal of the day. We’re not really arguing with this point, but you need to watch what you’re putting into your stomach first thing in the morning.

However, if your goal is to drop weight, then perhaps skip the sugary mess and opt for something healthier. Oh, and only eat after you’ve put in at least 30 minutes of exercise.

Exercise then breakfast?

As it turns out, eating a hearty breakfast after exercise can help you burn more fat and manage blood sugar.

A 6-week study was done to evaluate the amount of weight loss for overweight and obese men in England. In the end, the researchers found that those who exercised before eating were able to burn twice as much fat than their breakfast-first counterparts.

The Research

The participants ate their final meal of the day before 8 PM and getting a good amount of shut-eye. They were split into two different groups – one who ate breakfast before exercise and one who did it after. A control group was also formed to compare the results with those who made no lifestyle alterations.

Now, over the course of 6 weeks, the researchers didn’t find any significant drop in weight in any of the groups, but they found something more shocking: refraining from eating breakfast until after you’re worked out can help control blood sugar levels and reduce the risk of diabetes and heart disease.

This new information paired with what we already know about intense morning exercise has some pretty astounding long-term ramifications. Essentially, because blood sugar is controlled, our bodies are better able to use insulin to draw energy from glucose, providing us with more power throughout the day.

No weight loss?

Not exactlu.

You see, with more energy, you’re able to remain physically active for longer before needing to munch on something sugary. So it’s pretty safe to say that weight loss, though not the main finding of this study, is a possible outcome of changing your morning ritual.

However, there are ways to be healthy without dropping weight. A skinnier person may have a wide range of different health risks whereas a person with a wider waist could possibly have a stronger heart, clearer mind, and fewer long-term health complications.

8 of the Worst Things You Can Say on Your First Date

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Garrett

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The first date can be one of the most intimidating things in a young person’s life. You want to look good, say and do the right things, and hopefully the night will end on a high note. You want the date to be unforgettable for all the right reasons, but sometimes our mouths have a mind of their own. If you find yourself unable to land a second date with a love interest, it’s time to take a step back and see whether you’ve said or talked about any of these 8 things to your date.

Intimate details about those close to you

Your date doesn’t want to hear that your mother drinks herself to sleep every night or that your best friend contracted an STD and has a few short months to live. Avoid talking about personal details of relatives and friends. There’s a time and place for that, and the first date is definitely neither of those.

How awesome your ex was

Nobody wants to hear about how your ex made you happy or how he/she was such a terrific person. The first date is the perfect time to get to know another person, not inform that person of your past relationships.

“I’m bored”

If you’re not enjoying yourself, the worst thing you can do is tell your date that you’re bored. If the place your date is taking place in just isn’t your type of thing, ask him or her if they want to get out of there and looking for another place to hang out. If she chose the place, the least you can do is try to make the best out of a bad situation.

“I’m looking for a serious relationship”

Aaaand she’s out the door. Good job, genius. The first date is supposed to bring out the fun side of you. Telling her you’re in it for the long haul can make you appear too upfront. Let time pass before speaking about any long-term dreams and plans.

How horrible your life is

Believe us: she’s not looking for a project. If your life sucks, then it’s up to you to fix it; she doesn’t want to spend countless months or years trying to make you into a better person.

The bad things about your ex

Speaking highly of your ex is just as bad as talking about the bad things. You’ll come off as petty and stuck on your ex. Avoid speaking about any past relationships altogether.

How your date is out of your league

If he or she is out with you, then you’re definitely worth their time. Your intentions might be to flatter them, but nobody wants to be put on a pedestal. Treat them like a normal person and your date will go fine.

How you’ve stalked them on social media

What are you doing?! Don’t talk about that, even if it’s true! Avoid saying things like, “I saw on facebook/twitter/Instagram/etc. that you…” That’s totally creepy, dude.

The Best Tips For Men To Avoid Dry Skin This Winter

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Garrett

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Don’t Skip The Cleanser

Cold weather is no excuse to skip this step, as dry skin is prone to flakiness. Use a gentle, soap-free cleanser to get rid of dead skin and make your moisturizer sink in that much better. Try The Body Shop Vitamin E Gentle Face Wash with wheat germ oil.

Opt For A Richer Moisturizer

The tried-and-tested product you’ve been using all summer might not cut it in winter – consider going for a balmy consistency for your day cream, like Neutrogena Men Triple Protect Face Lotion Cream with SPF 20. Alternatively, add a few drops of Jojoba oil to your regular moisturizer – it’s unscented, natural and it works great as a beard conditioner!

Masks On The Side

Find a bit of downtime in the evening after a chilly day out to relax and replenish. While you’re watching your favorite show, apply a soothing facial mask – we recommend Benton Goodbye Redness Centella Mask Pack. Sheet masks are not just for girls, your skin will appreciate it for sure!

Nighttime Serums

Despite all your best efforts, you still wake up with dry, tight feeling skin? Try adding an extra step in the form of a nourishing serum overnight – The Ordinary Granactive Retinoid 2% In Squalane provides added anti-aging benefits as well. Just add a few drops before your moisturizer and pat it into your skin lightly.

Careful With The Trim

If you shave regularly, it’s crucial to take care of any cuts and micro-tears that might happen. The easiest prevention is using a shaving cream – to help the razor glide smoothly, add a luxurious balm to your routine, such as LUSH Dirty Shaving Cream with honey and shea butter.

Bonus Steps

One of the things where prevention is the key is chapped lips – you really want to avoid them, as they are slow to heal, especially in the winter! Make sure you pop a small tube of lip balm into your pocket, such as the all-natural Burt’s Bees Beeswax Lip Balm.

With all that said, consider these tips and tricks and try them out to get ready for those snowy, freezing winter months!

Tesla’s Bestseller Model 3 – How Effective Is The Self-Driving Feature?

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Garrett

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High Automation

On the electric car market, Tesla’s star is rising steadily – with Model 3 reaching bestseller status recently in the UK. But what makes it stand out from other options?

Software-driven autonomous cars seem like a concept still too futuristic for most of us – but let’s get used to the fact that the current cars rolling out of Tesla factories are nearing full self-driving capabilities.

The company can provide an effortless driving experience – coupled with the sleek, minimalist interior of the Model 3. It features multiple cameras, sensory detection, radar and most importantly a powerful computer collecting real-time traffic data.

With the new Smart Summon feature brought out in September 2019, Tesla is aiming to facilitate parking for its clients. The car navigates tight parking spots at the press of a button, returning to its owner by itself – but does it still need intervention at some point?

Handling The Wheel

Tesla states that even though the necessary hardware for full automation is already installed in current models, they still require an alert driver with their hands on the steering wheel even when the car is performing its pre-programmed automatic functions. This is, of course, a legal requirement – in Europe at least – as you are still supposed to respond to avoid accidents.

In any case, the continuous developing and beta-testing allow users to improve their cars on the fly with function and performance updates. This makes Tesla a manufacturer of extremely safe cars – it was awarded the highest safety honor this year out of any electric vehicle by the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety.

The skyrocketing sales of the Model 3 seem proof enough that Tesla is on the right track with this eco-friendly approach to provide a revolutionary, luxurious driving experience for those who choose to invest in it.

5 Signs that You’re Overtraining

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Garrett

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A little exercise is good. More exercise is great. An hour on the treadmill is even better. But pushing yourself beyond the limit for extended periods of time without sufficient breaks can do a lot more harm than good.

Overtraining going beyond your physical limitations and without enough rest periods. It can be counterproductive to your end goal of increasing muscle mass, and it can cause your athletic abilities to either plateau or drop significantly.

If you spend every day at the gym, you should know of the following warning signs of overtraining.

1. Excessive fatigue

Fatigue is normal after spending a long day at the gym, but if your episodes of fatigue seem to become longer and longer, you may be overtraining. What’s worse is that the condition can persist for several weeks or even months if not dealt with immediately. This is because your body is draining its carb, protein, and fat sources quicker than normal

2. Loss of appetite

This point is related to the first. If you overtrain, your body suppresses the desire to eat. So although you’ve become fatigued, your body doesn’t want to replenish nutrients. This leads to a significant drop in physical activity will take away the physique you’ve worked so hard to achieve.

3. Moodiness

Overtraining causes a spike in stress hormone production. This eventually leads to a hormonal imbalance that affects your mood. You may also find yourself become easily triggered by the smallest of things and a drop in concentration.

4. Depression

And that’s not the only way your mind is affected by overtraining. Professional athletes may fall into a pit of mental despair when training for an upcoming competition. This is due to a sinister mixture of hormonal disturbance and a lack of quality sleep.

5. Frequent sickness

Falling ill isn’t a regular part of a healthy lifestyle. For those who like to constantly test their physical boundaries, sickness can your body’s way of telling you that it’s time to dial it down. Overtraining tests your immune system, and your immune system almost always loses. If you find yourself frequently falling ill (flu, colds, fevers), take a couple of days off to rest.

Why Every Traveler Should Have a Weekender Bag

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Garrett

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Weekender bags, also known as weekender cases, are a handy luggage piece that fits every item you need for a weekend trip. The best part is that they’re not just for travel – if you go to the gym, do yoga, or have a family outing planned in the near future, a versatile weekender bag can carry all of your belongings without any hassle.

Why A Weekender Bag is Necessary

Most of you might be wondering what makes a weekender bag unique to other travel bags. Essentially, weekenders were designed with functionality as its main selling point. They come in all shapes and sizes – the larger varieties may be too large for air travel, but if you’re venturing by bus, there’s on such thing as too large.

Spacious with Numerous Pockets

Upon pulling the zipper open, prepare to be amazed by how much storage an average weekender actually has. They’re typically smaller than duffle bags but a lot larger than the average backpack. You won’t have to worry about destroying your travel supplies by cramming everything you have – including delicate electronics – into the same compartment.

Style Points

Weekender bags aren’t just about functionality. No, they’re greater than that. A good weekender bag will attract a few stares from fellow travelers. Real recognizes real, and frequent travelers might shoot you and your bag a few compliments.

Top 3 Best Weekender Bags According to Travel Editors

Like any piece of luggage, finding the right weekender bag requires ab it of research on your part. For our lucky readers, we’ve spent the time and energy doing it for you. Take a look at what renown travel editors consider the best weekender bags.

1. Filson 48-Hour Tin Cloth Weekender

The best overall weekender bag has to be the Filson. This rugged weekender is finest bag for outdoorsman or those who appreciate awesome craftsmanship. The Filson is designed to carry enough luggage to get you through a full weekend in style.

2. Peak Design Travel Weekender Bag

The Peak Design is a straightforward bag of reputable ruggedness. It’s a minimalist bag that provides you with enough storage for a full day on the road. Best of all, it’s designed to pass as carry-on luggage for air travel, so anywhere you go on the globe, the Peak Design will be at your side.

3. Timbuk2 Tripper Weekender

Of all the brands, Timbuk2 was the first to craft an exceptional weekender for those going on rough trips. This bag is made to handle the most adventurous trips in the most remote places in the world without dragging you down.

The Shortest NBA Players of All Time

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Garrett

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Height is definitely an important consideration in the NBA. Professional basketball leagues around the world often favor those that are larger than life to players of average height. But this isn’t always the case – there have been several short players (shorter than 6 feet) that have rocked the court and stolen the heart of fans across the US. Here are five of the shortest basketball players to ever grace the NBA.

Keith Jennings (1992-95) 5 feet 7 inches

Keith “Mister” Jennings never considered his lack of height as an obstacle in his pursuit to becoming an NBA player. He joined the league as an undrafted agent and signed with Golden State Warriors where he played for three years before getting involved in a series of European clubs. He ultimately retired from pro basketball, and now he spends his time coaching high school players.

Greg Grant(1990-96) 5 feet 7 inches

Greg Grant retired in the 1995-96 season as a member of the Washington Bullets (now Wizards). The 5-foot-7-inch point guard was involved in the league and CBL teams throughout his 9-year career as a pro baller. He was discovered in 1986 playing in a local basketball court and enrolled in Trenton State College where he became the top scorer in the Division III program his junior year. He was drafted in the second round by the Phoenix Suns.

Mel Hirsch (1946-47) 5 feet 6 inches

Mel held the record for being the shortest NBA player of history for a solid 40 years before Boykins and Bogues came into the picture. Despite losing the 1941 title to Manhattan College, the New York Times commended his athleticism and performance on the court, and the 5-foot-6 guard played for the Boston Celtics for one year, averaging 20% in field goals in 13 games. He retired after his rookie season.

Earl Boykins (1999-2012) 5 feet 5 inches

Earl Boykins retired in 2012 wearing a Houston Rockets jersey after jumping from team to team and even spending one season playing for an Italian team. He wasn’t drafted into the NBA but decided to sign short-term deals with numerous teams before playing four seasons with the Denver Nuggets. His love for basketball developed at an early age where his father would sneak him into adult recreational centers in his duffle bag.

Muggsy Bogues (1987-2001) 5 feet 3 inches

Muggsy Bogues, the shortest player to ever play professionally in the NBA, was drafted as a joke. The 5-foot-3 point guard was drafted by the Washington Bullets to play alongside the monstrous 7-foot-7 Manute Bol, but he immediately showed that his game wasn’t a joke. Despite being the shortest man EVER in the NBA, he racked up an impressive 39 blocks in his 14-year stint in the league. He ended his career as a Dallas Maverick despite not playing a single game for them.

Eat These Foods to Boost Testosterone Production

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Garrett

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Testosterone is the male sex hormone that does a lot for a man than just affect his sex drive. Testosterone improves bone strength, hair growth, and enhances muscle mass. As we grow older and wiser, testosterone levels drop and potentially cause physical changes and mood swings.

The good news is we can rejuvenate testosterone levels by adding more vitamin D and zinc into our diets. Here’s a quick list of testosterone-boosting foods rich in vitamins and minerals.

1. Fortified Milk

Milk is an excellent source of calcium and protein. If you’re not lactose intolerant, you may want to down a couple of glasses of milk daily. Milk fortified with vitamins A and D is ideal.

2. Oysters

Zinc is essential for growth, especially during puberty, as it is a precursor for testosterone production. Zinc can be found in many food types, including nuts and dairy. However, to get the most zinc without nibbling on walnuts and cheese all day, stick to oysters.

3. Egg Yolks

There are a ton of reasons why you shouldn’t discard the yolk when hard-boiling eggs. Its cholesterol content may be a bit concerning, but it contains a heck of a lot more nutrients than the whites. Plus, it’s rich in vitamin D.

4. Beef

Grilled, stir-fried, in chili, whatever – if you’re not a vegetarian or vegan, then beef should stay on the menu. Beef liver contains vitamin D while the meat (ground beef and chuck roast) is rich in zinc. However, try and limit your beef consumption to a few times every week. You might also want to seek out butchers who stock up on lean cuts of grass-fed beef.

5. Beans

To boost hormone growth to healthy levels, incorporate more beans into your diet. White, kidney, and black beans are rich in nutrients, and they also contain the most vitamin D and zinc than any other.

6. Tuna

Tuna is one of the healthiest foods for our hearts. It’s rich in proteins, low in calories, and chock-full of vitamin D. If you can’t get your hands on fresh tuna, canned tuna will work just fine.